- Common name
- Alternanthera reineckii
- Scientific name
- Alternanthera reineckii
- Category
- Aquarium plant
- Group
- Red stem plants
- Environment
- Freshwater planted aquarium
- Origin
- Bolivia to Brazil and northern Argentina
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- Common aquarium stems approximately 20–30+ cm tall; older or untrimmed stems may grow taller
- Expected lifespan
- Annual in botanical records; aquarium stands can persist through repeated vegetative cuttings
- Minimum housing
- No fixed litre minimum; provide enough height, substrate area and trimming access for the selected form
- Temperature
- Unknown — no dependable universal species limit established for aquarium cultivation
- pH
- Unknown — maintain stable freshwater appropriate to the aquarium livestock
- Hardness / minerals
- Unknown — maintain stable measured mineral conditions
- Salinity
- Freshwater; routine salt addition is not recommended
- Lighting
- Medium to high; stronger light supports compact red growth only when carbon and nutrients are stable
- Placement / zone
- Midground to background
- Filtration
- Use circulation and mechanical filtration that keep fine debris from settling through the stems without uprooting or flattening them. Guard intakes after trimming and keep the biological filter stable when fertiliser or carbon delivery changes.
- Aeration
- Maintain normal whole-aquarium gas exchange. In injected-carbon systems, preserve safe night-time oxygen and prevent carbon accumulation; stronger aeration is required if livestock show respiratory stress.
- Maintenance
- Prune and replant healthy tops, remove shaded or decaying lower stems, vacuum loose debris, inspect for algae and hitchhikers, and change light, carbon or fertiliser only in measured steps.
Identity and search names
Single-species profile for Alternanthera reineckii; cultivar-specific size and form require separate profiles.
Search names: Scarlet temple, Red alternanthera, Alternanthera reineckii “Pink”
Environment and housing
Rooted freshwater stem-plant zone
Social structure: Grouped stem growth; no animal social structure applies.
Feeding and nutrition
Feeding ecology: Photosynthetic stem plant using light, carbon dioxide and dissolved or substrate nutrients.
Feeding routine: Provide balanced macro- and micronutrients according to measured plant response. Avoid large corrective doses and remove decaying leaves.
Breeding, reproduction or spread
Stem cuttings
Detailed care and app-ready planning
- Identity scope
- Single-species profile for Alternanthera reineckii; cultivar-specific size and form require separate profiles.
- Adult size and space
- Common trade forms are about 20–30+ cm after establishment, but dimensions vary. Leave gaps between stems and provide access for repeated pruning and replanting.
- Social structure
- Grouped stem growth; no animal social structure applies.
- Swimming zone or placement
- Rooted midground to background plant; no swimming zone applies.
- Feeding ecology
- Photosynthetic stem plant using light, carbon dioxide and dissolved or substrate nutrients.
- Feeding plan
- Provide balanced macro- and micronutrients according to measured plant response. Avoid large corrective doses and remove decaying leaves.
- Water stability
- Species-specific numeric temperature, pH and hardness limits are Unknown. Keep freshwater stable and change light, carbon or fertiliser gradually.
- Habitat structure
- Nutrient-capable substrate, open light and enough spacing to prevent shaded bare lower stems.
- Compatibility plan
- Avoid large digging or strongly herbivorous animals and prevent taller plants from shading the stand.
- Breeding or reproduction plan
- Cut healthy tops above nodes and replant them. Discard damaged bases securely rather than leaving them to decay.
- Quarantine
- Inspect leaves, nodes, roots and packaging for snails, eggs, algae, pesticides and decay before planting.
- Welfare checks
- Check new growth, colour, internode length, root formation, lower-leaf retention, tissue melt and algae before changing care.
- Biosecurity and release
- Bag unwanted stems and fragments for secure disposal. Never release plant material or aquarium water into drains or waterways.
- Main risk
- Unstable high light or carbon causing algae, weak growth and livestock stress.
- Adult projected load
- Projected load is plant biomass, shading, nutrient uptake, trimming debris and night-time respiration. Dense mature stands need circulation, pruning access and stable carbon and nutrient supply, not just the space occupied by new cuttings.
- Filtration
- Use circulation and mechanical filtration that keep fine debris from settling through the stems without uprooting or flattening them. Guard intakes after trimming and keep the biological filter stable when fertiliser or carbon delivery changes.
- Aeration
- Maintain normal whole-aquarium gas exchange. In injected-carbon systems, preserve safe night-time oxygen and prevent carbon accumulation; stronger aeration is required if livestock show respiratory stress.
- Maintenance
- Prune and replant healthy tops, remove shaded or decaying lower stems, vacuum loose debris, inspect for algae and hitchhikers, and change light, carbon or fertiliser only in measured steps.
- Overridable warnings
- Non-overridable: do not release viable stems or trimmings, and do not increase light or carbon faster than the system can support safely. A knowledgeable user may use another fertiliser, substrate or pruning method only when stable growth and livestock safety are demonstrated.
- Identity
- Accepted species Alternanthera reineckii. Miniature and named cultivars are distinct horticultural forms and should not be treated as identical to the standard trade plant.
- Environment
- Plant individual stems in a stable freshwater planted aquarium with circulation that does not flatten the foliage.
- Feeding
- Photosynthetic plant using light, dissolved carbon and mineral nutrients. Balanced nutrition matters more than chasing red colour with excess iron.
- Breeding
- Propagated vegetatively by stem cuttings. Botanical seed production is not the normal aquarium method.
- Growth Rate
- Moderate under stable higher-resource conditions.
- Lighting Plan
- Start at moderate intensity and increase only after carbon and nutrient stability is proven.
- Carbon Plan
- Supplemental CO2 is strongly beneficial but must be stable and safe for livestock.
- Nutrient Plan
- Use balanced nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace nutrients; red colour is not proof of iron deficiency.
- Substrate Plan
- Plant stems individually in a nutrient-capable substrate and replant healthy tops as lower stems age.
Compatibility, welfare and risk
Compatibility: Planted aquariums without strong diggers or herbivores
Welfare: Plant welfare depends on stable light, carbon and balanced nutrition. Sudden high light or unstable carbon can trigger algae and stress aquarium animals before colour improves.
Main warning: Low light, unstable carbon or nutrient imbalance causes leggy green growth, bare lower stems and algae. Do not treat cultivar dimensions as universal for the species.
Biosecurity and release
Bag unwanted stems and fragments for secure disposal. Never release plant material or aquarium water into drains or waterways.